Chapter 1 Plotting

"Does what Shijie is saying mean using public opinion to make Bai Chen lose prestige among the common people?"

After hearing these words from Yu Qingwu, Xie Jin Yan immediately understood.

This trick wasn't impossible, but…

His eyebrows furrowed slightly, and he stared at Yu Qingwu for a moment before saying, "But A-Wu, the people of Yunzhou City's faith in Bai Chen wasn't built in a day or two."

"Moreover, if we want to defeat him, it won't be solved with just a few words."

His brow furrowed tightly as he looked up and deeply at the woman before him.

After hesitating for a moment, he finally spoke, his voice low, "Shijie, before I came, I sent people to inquire about the news here, but what I received was very different from what I see now. Furthermore, the information reported to the imperial court by the Yunzhou governor is also very different from what I see now."

"According to the Yunzhou governor's report, the Baiyue Society bandits are only entrenched in the mountains, but due to the terrain, their stronghold is easy to defend but difficult to attack. Therefore, he has been requesting the imperial court to send more manpower, provide carriages and horses, and supply food."

"At first, Father Emperor repeatedly supplied them, but later, he became increasingly suspicious."

"Therefore, he stopped supplying materials and sending more manpower, and instead directly sent Xie Qiyun and those two youngsters from the You family to suppress the bandits. Unexpectedly, after several months, they sent messages every month asking for supplies and manpower, but they still couldn't defeat a small group of bandits."

"Moreover, now that I think about it, the previous famine and the increase in taxes were also very strange. Yunzhou experienced a famine that year, and the imperial court had been supplying food. Furthermore, since Father Emperor ascended the throne, the Wei Dynasty's taxes have never increased."

"This matter is probably not that simple."

Xie Jin Yan's voice was low, and his expression became increasingly unsightly as he spoke.

After hearing his words, Yu Qingwu roughly guessed something.

If it was just the Baiyue Society causing trouble, then the real situation wouldn't be completely unknown to the imperial court. Even if they didn't know everything, they should have known some information.

However, for so many years, the information from Yunzhou to the imperial court has been completely opposite to the reality.

This can only prove one thing: someone is deliberately concealing the truth, and this person is definitely not as simple as a mere governor.

As the saying goes, "Heaven is high, and the emperor is far away," but if things get too big, it will naturally be impossible to hide from the emperor. Therefore, it can only be said that there is probably a corrupt element in the imperial court, and this person's power should not be small.

As for increasing taxes, it is not difficult to explain. Someone must be increasing taxes behind the imperial court's back, and the increased tax revenue probably went into that person's pocket.

But why would the other party do this?

Just to make some money?

This answer is denied…

Therefore, if we want to figure things out now, we must first lure the snake out of its hole.

After a moment of silence, Yu Qingwu looked at Xie Jin Yan again, her eyes flashing slightly, and said, "Your Highness, let's lure the snake out of its hole."

"If we want to make Bai Chen lose prestige, we must do something practical."

"I heard my master mention the Baiyue Society, saying that they are also good at raising insects."

"So… actually, we can frame them."

"Furthermore, aren't they always monitoring us? Then why don't we use their scheme against them?"

Use their scheme against them?

How should we use their scheme against them?

Xie Jin Yan's plan was to first gather information, and it would be easier to act if he knew his enemy.

However, listening to Yu Qingwu's meaning, she seemed to have some understanding of the Baiyue Society. Therefore, those things could be advanced.

Silently looking at Yu Qingwu for a moment, the heavy expression on Xie Jin Yan's face finally revealed a hint of a smile, and he asked her, "Shijie, it sounds like you know a lot about the Baiyue Society."

Know a lot?

I guess so, at least more than others.

Taking a deep look at Xie Jin Yan, she forced a bitter smile and replied softly, "My master told me everything."

"That's strange, why didn't my master ever mention it to me?" Xie Jin Yan asked, puzzled.

However, he didn't have time to think too much about it.

Thinking that he could act in advance, he became energized.

After saying that, he changed the topic and asked Yu Qingwu with a smile, "Alright, Shijie, stop keeping me in suspense. Tell me, what are you planning to do?"

Hearing this, Yu Qingwu smiled, and the bitter look in her eyes immediately returned to clarity. She slowly moved closer to Xie Jin Yan, leaned close to his ear, and said, "Your Highness, if Qing Qing can be said to be a jinx, why can't Bai Chen be a jinx too?"

"You mean…"

"Exactly…"

The low voice was drowned in the night.

At this moment, in Yunzhou, in the Baiyue Society's dungeon.

Bai Chen had just finished interrogating Xie Qiyun and several officials sent by the imperial court, and then stepped out of the dungeon.

As soon as he left the dungeon, he saw a couple walking up.

The man was very tall and strong, while the woman had an extremely delicate baby face.

Both of them were dressed in luxurious clothes.

Seeing this, Bai Chen quickly went up to them, smiling obsequiously as he bowed to the man and said, "This humble one greets Your Highness, greets Your Highness's Consort."

"You may dispense with the formalities." The man waved his hand, then looked in the direction of the dungeon and asked, "How is it? Still haven't confessed?"

"Hey, Your Highness, to be honest, this humble one has used all kinds of methods, but they seem to really not know anything."

Bai Chen looked bitter and replied with some helplessness.

Hearing this, the man's expression became even more gloomy, and he asked again, "By the way, I heard that the Wei Emperor recently sent people to secretly investigate Yunzhou again. Have you found out who they are?"

Bai Chen nodded and replied, "There have indeed been many unfamiliar faces in the city recently, but there is a couple who are particularly conspicuous. Presumably, they have some connection with the imperial court."

"What do that couple look like?"

At this time, the woman spoke.

A flash of resentment flashed in her eyes, and then she seemed to think of something. Before Bai Chen could speak, she asked him, "Bai Chen, is that man extremely handsome, with deep features, a tall figure, and a noble demeanor?"

"And that woman…" She gritted her teeth, unwilling to praise the other party even a little, but after a moment of hesitation, she finally opened her mouth, saying with resentment, "Is that woman extremely beautiful, with a cold demeanor, and a soft yet aloof way of speaking, born with a face that seduces men?"

The woman's resentment when mentioning the woman and her gentleness when mentioning the man formed a stark contrast.

Suddenly, the man beside her looked unhappy.

Bai Chen was also a little embarrassed.

He stiffened and said with some difficulty, "According to the waiter, that woman is extremely beautiful. Although she always has a "stay away" look, people can't help but take a second glance."

Bai Chen was too embarrassed to say that he had also taken a few extra glances.

At this moment, the woman in yellow standing in front of him looked even more gloomy, and a viciousness that was extremely inconsistent with her appearance appeared on her pure face. She said coldly, "It really is that bitch Yu Qingwu! She harmed me to this extent! Now she's come to seek her own death! It's the will of Heaven! The will of Heaven!"